by andy flewker

Created on: June 17, 2008   Last Updated: June 18, 2008

Confidently I know the answer to this question. I have been in the trade a long time and I know what it's about from experience. Just liking food will not make you a chef.
Hundreds of thousands of people young and old have aspired to be A Chef some go to college, some get a job and learn from scratch in a working environment and have no qualifications, an awful lot do not make it for various reasons, and even today there are shortages of skilled chefs.

Firstly you want to decide what you want to be a Pastry Chef or a Chef, both have different training, if you enjoy making cakes and are artistic then a Baking and Confectionary course would benefit you. Good Pastry chefs are Needed, enrol on the course available (in the uk they are NVQ and City Guilds ),it might take you two or three years to gain, and some get jobs as well to help them get use to the working environment. When you have achieved your Certificate or even before take a position in a good 5*+ establishment as a commis chef (trainee) and learn all the sections in the kitchen, this will probly take another 2/3 years, and then.

The World can be your oyster for a few years maybe. After this you should be ready to start working your way to the top of the tree in your chosen career to become a Head Chef, employment for Chefs is global, if your good you should be able to work at some of the best Hotels in the top Holiday Resorts around the planet, working for the rich and famous, many establishments offer living in accommodation and some pay your flights too. I travelled the world for a number of years and it never cost me a penny, well worth it, so long as you are aware that You will face a life of split shifts, and straight shifts, work weekends, bank holidays too, work forty eight hours at least a week, over five or six days, for a wage that could be, and, should be a lot more, but good wages are obtainable. A sense of humour is must.i have no doubt that it/you will be tested! the practical jokes begin like you have never imagined, you have to acquire speed with your knives, and be able to do more than one or two tasks these have deadlines to be met three times a day at least because the meal has to be ready on time, under pressure you will learn how to keep your cool and how not too as well.

The good news is you will get feeling of accomplishment when you see the finished product of your work, you will be taught and learn from people like yourself who have a passion and commitment to their work.

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